My apologies if you do not find any logic or common thread in the selection. But these are the top ten movies I have seen over a period of 26 years. (Actually, I have the list ready and updated and was just waiting to post it somewhere).
(Have given a one or two line review for all the movies except the first four)
- Face Off
John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, two of the best actors, John woo, a superb storyline and some of the best action sequences and sound effects. Need I add more?
- The Gladiator
Nothing needs to be said. A little gory to some .. maybe .. but hats off to the way the pace is kept up and the characters are managed. The locations and the dialogues leave a mark on you that would not be erased soon. (Remember ‘on my signal.. unleash hell’)
- Guns of Navarone
A legend in its own..none of the following movies which tried to replicate the success this even came close.
- The Ten Commandments
Blessed by god, this movie remains one of the most watched even today. Remember, this movie and all the grand special effects came at a time when most of us were not even born.
- The Negotiator
If you like tense movies, but hate the action and the bullets, watch this movie. Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson steal the show as the two negotiators. Nothing they say is without meaning and only they can understand each other.
- The Shawshank Redemption
I saw this in one of the lists at mouthshut and I agree completely that this movie deserves to be there. One of the finest movies, the story of how a man does not give up hope for 17 years. Also a superb performance by Morgan Freeman.
- Titanic
Bhavna is going to hate me for placing her favorite movie at No. 4, but it is just a matter of personal taste. The story of the sinking ship and the romantic story in between is outstanding. What impressed me most is the fact that the director managed to bring out human emotions amazingly well for e.g. the owner of the ship jumps on in one of the boats and escapes, the manner in which the musicians go on playing till the end. Of course, Kate Winslet is also one of the reasons I like the movie. All the actors have given amazing performances.
- Remember the Titans
Denzel Washington has done an amazing job in this one. It is the story of a football team and the fact that they are divided into white and black. Enter the coach who runs the place like a ‘dictatorship’ and brings the team together. The team becomes perfect. Each of the scene in the movie is a chapter on emotions and how to deal with people. The tough outside and soft inside soul has been portrayed beautifully in the movie.
- Saving Private Ryan
Three brothers dead and a fourth fighting somewhere in the plains. The US government decides to send a team to find the fourth brother. Enter Tom Hanks as the man in charge of the eight member team. Don’t miss any scene in this movie!
1.Twelve Angry Men
One of the oldest movies in the list and still the best for over five years. The original, which has been copied into many languages, including ‘Ek Ruka Hua Faisla’ in Hindi. Shot in one room, the movie shows how one man stands for what he believes in and convinces 11 members of the jury. A must for all negotiators and people, it is used as a case study in some of the B-Schools across the world.
Some of those that did not make the list but could have been there:
Castaway
The Matrix
Ben-Hur
American beauty
The Godfather
Seven
Robinhood – Prince of Thieves
Platoon
The Sixth Sense
A Beautiful Mind